Whiting Petroleum Ramps Production at ND Wells

Whiting Petroleum recently completed four new producers in its Sanish field in Mountrail County, North Dakota.

During a 24-hour test of the Middle Bakken formation on August 7, 2010, the Carkuff 12-24H flowed at a daily rate of 3,475 barrels of oil and 2.0 million cubic feet (MMcf) of gas, or 3,805 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day. The initial 24-hour production rate was gauged on a 48/64-inch choke with a flowing casing pressure of 965 pounds per square inch (psi). The well was fracture stimulated in a total of 30 stages, 22 stages using sliding sleeve technology and the remaining eight stages using the "plug and perf" method. Whiting, the operator of the well, holds a 38% working interest and a 31% net revenue interest in the new producer.

The Carkuff well, which is located in the north-central portion of the Sanish field, is the second well drilled in the 1,280-acre spacing unit. The initial well, the Arndt 11-24H, was completed on September 8, 2009 flowing 1,429 BOE per day during a 24-hour test of the Middle Bakken. The well was fracture stimulated in 10 stages.

The Fladeland 43-9H was tested on August 10, 2010 flowing 3,150 BOE per day from the Middle Bakken formation. The 24-hour test was gauged on a 48/64-inch choke with a flowing casing pressure of 756 psi. The well, which was drilled on the northwest side of the Sanish field, was fracture stimulated in 22 stages, all using sliding sleeves. Whiting operates the Fladeland 43-9H, holding a working interest of 30% and a net revenue interest of 24%.

On the east side of the Sanish field, the Littlefield 21-12H was tested on August 13, 2010 flowing 2,788 BOE per day through a 48/64-inch choke with a flowing casing pressure of 653 psi. The Bakken producer was fracture stimulated in 19 stages, all with sliding sleeves. Whiting holds an 87% working interest and a 71% net revenue interest and is operator of the Littlefield 21-12H.

During a 24-hour test of the Three Forks formation, the TTT Ranch 4-6TFH flowed 1,768 BOE per day on August 16, 2010. The initial 24-hour production rate was gauged on a 48/64-inch choke with a flowing casing pressure of 423 psi. The well was fracture stimulated in a total of 22 stages, all using sliding sleeves. Whiting, the operator of the well, holds a 43% working interest and a 35% net revenue interest in the new producer.

The TTT Ranch 4-6TFH, which was drilled in the center of the field, recorded the highest initial production rate for a Three Forks well drilled to date in the Sanish field. The previous highest initial rate came from the Whiting-operated Olson 11-14TFH at 1,640 BOE per day. This well was fracture stimulated in 25 stages and completed on June 2, 2010.